Overhead bunker refrigerator car with a fan



Dec. 2, 1952 R. AfDoERlNG P2,619,803

OVERHEAD BUNKER REFRGRTOR CAR WITH A FAN Filed Oct. 3l, 1950 l 2SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR.

DCC. 2, 1952 R. A. DoERiNG 2,619,803

OVERHEAD BUNKER REFRIGERATOR CAR WITH FAN Filed Oct. 31,* 1950 2'SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVEN'Toz;

N I 1 I 3067x729 Patented Dec. 2, 1952 OVERHEAD BUNKER REFRIGERATOR CARWITH A FAN Raymond A. Deering, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 31, 1950, Serial No. 193,267

This invention relates to refrigerators used to store and maintainperishable commodities therein at a predetermined temperature. Theessential features of a refrigerator are an insulated body to prevent orretard ingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat duringcold weather.

The invention applies particularly to railroad refrigerator carswhereinthe cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice,brine or Dry Ice or any other refrigerant, are suspended immediatelybelow the ceiling of the car. Thevlading is supported upon a foraminousrack in spaced relation to the oor. Flues at the side walls of the carcommunicate between the refrigerant compartment and the space under thefloor rack to provide a path for circulation of air.

The efficiency of any refrigerator is dependent primarily upon thequality of the insulation in the walls, the air. circulation, thesurface area of the refrigerant containers, and the speed with which theheat transfer takes place.

It is, therefore, the objects of thisV invention to provide arefrigerator having refrigerant tanks of large surface area and toaugment said area by radiationns; to provide heat transfer ducts throughsaid containers and to provide means for forcing air circulation throughsaid ducts which also augment the circulation of air throughout therefrigerator; and to provide means whereby the Warm air in therefrigerator is forced to travel upwardly in a flue formed in part bythe side Walls of the refrigerator from the space under the floor rackto the area around the refrigerant containers; and the air cooled by therefrigerant is forced to travel downwardly adjacent the first mentionedue in a foraminous rack ue formed in part by said first mentioned flueto the commodity being cooled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Y will appear in thefollowing description thereof.

Referring now'to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts.

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a refrigerator car bodyillustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. v2 is a partial top plan view and horizontal section ofapproximately one-half of a refrigerator car.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper part of arefrigerator car body illustrating a pair of the improved refrigerantcontainers.

7 anims. (c1. 62-17) In the drawings, the general parts of therefrigerator car body shown are vthe insulated roof 2, side walls 3,floor 4, hatches 5, refrigerant containers 6, side wall flues "I,foraminous door rack 8 and space 9 between the rack 8 and floor 4. Therefrigerant containers 6, preferably four, are spaced apart andpositioned immediately below the roof 2 extending transversely of thecar to adjacent the side walls 3. The bottoms of these containers areinclined downwardly from the ends toward the transverse center thereofbelow the ridge of the car. kThe bottoms of said containers are providedwith a plurality of spaced parallel radiation fins I0 which extend fromend to end of the containers and which provide a plurality ofpassageways for circulation of air under said containers and betweensaid fins, thereby materially increasing the surface area of heattransfer of said containers. Each container is also provided with atransverse rectangular heat transfer duct I I extending through thecontainer being supported therein by the sides of said container, saidducts of adjacent containers projecting into the space therebetween. Theside walls of the projecting endsof said ducts taper down to a collar I2within which is mounted a motor driven fan I3 for forcing alr throughsaid duct and at the same time increasing the air circulation throughoutthe car. This duct II is spaced from the top and bottom of the containerso that the duct is submerged within the brine or other refrigerantwithin the container. A plurality of parallel transversely disposedfinned tubes I4 extend from top to bottom of said container so that therefrigerant may pass freely therethrough or at least so that said tubeswill be filled with said refrigerant.

The air forced by the fans I3 through said ducts will be compelled topass between the finned tubes and thus the. area of heat transfer ofsaid containers is further increased.k The top and bottom of the ductsare covered with ya Vscreen to prevent chunks of ice or salt becominglodged within the tubes. Each container is provided with a drain pipe I5provided with a valve I for draining the containers when necessary.Through the top of each container is provided a pair of spaced openingsII which are located so as to occur directly under the hatches 5v whenthe containers are installed in the car. Carlines I8 extend from side toside of the car on opposite sides of the containers, to which they areattached, to hold said containers in place in the car. Power for themotors of fans" I3 may be storage batteries charged by any of severalaxle 3 power take-off devices well known in the railroad eld.

An overflow pipe 40 extends from an end of each tank downwardly towardthe upper end of the adjacent flue 1 to conduct any brine overflowinginto said pipe 40 into said flue 1 and downwardly therethrough to gutterM and out through an ordinary refrigerator car drain trap, not shown.

Under each refrigerant container 6 is a pair of spaced drip pans 20,each arranged parallel with the bottom of said container. The spacebetween the ends of the drip pans at the center of the car provides anarea for the passage of the cooled air therethrough downwardly to thelading space of the car. metal lining provided with upturned flanges 2Iat the sides and a flange 22 at the end to prevent condensation fallingthereon from runningtherefrom onto the lading. At the center of each endflange 22 a drain connection 23 is provided to carry the condensationfrom the pans to the longitudinally 'disposed drain pipe 24 whichextends under both containers 6 and empties into the lend wall flue 1.The drain pipes I yfrom the containers also flow into this drain lin'e24. Each drip p'an extends from a sid-e wall of the 'car to adjacentlthe longitudinal center thereof. The space between the drip pans andcontainers forms a :duct for the passage of air therethrough incirculating.

The side walls 3 are of the usual insulated construction and providedwith Aa suitable lining 3c extending from the top to bottom of the carand from end to end thereof. Spaced, vertically dislposed spacer strips3| are secured to lining 38,

to the inner surface of which is secured another lining 32 which extendsfrom adjacent the oor rack 8 to adjacent the outer edge of the drip pan20, to which 'it is connected by `an inclined piece 33. Thus the 'spacedlinings 33 and 32 form the flue 1, which flue communicates with thespace 9 under the floor .rack 8 and the space between the drip pan andthe container 6. To the inner surface of the lining 32 are secured aplurality of spaced vertically 'disposed Vspacer strips 34, and to theinner surfaces of these strips are secured a plurality of horizontallydisposed Vspaced slats 35, thus providing a wall rack flue 36, whichcommunicates with and is similar to the space 9 under the -ii'oor rack8. These slats 35 continue up the side walls of the car to adjacent thedrip vpans 2Q, in any event sufficiently high to be at least slightlyabove the top of the lading in the car.

The end walls of the car are provided with identical vflues and areconsequently given the same reference characters.

When the fans are not operating, and air Vcirculation is by gravity, theair between the containers and drip pans, upon being cooled by therefrigerant within the containers, will now rdown to the center Yof thecar onto the lading within the car below the drip pans. If this ladingis boxes, barrels, or the like, with spaces therebetween, the `cooledair will lter down and about the lading, gradually being warmed in theprocess, until it reaches and passes downwardly through the spaces'between the lslats of the floor rack 8 into the space 9. It then passes`laterally to the 'side walls lof the car and up the outer flue 1 to thespace between the drip pans and containers, where the cycle is repeated.If the lading is a tight load, as, for example, boxes which abut with nospace therebetween, the cold Each drip .pan has a air moving down fromthe center of the car will move laterally over the top of the lading tothe wall rack nues 36 and will move downwardly therethrough, picking upheat from the lading as it passes downwardly in said flues. It thenpasses upwardly through outer flue 1 to the space between the drip pansand the containers 6 and repairs the cycle.

When the fans are operating, the air between adjacent tanks is forced bysaid fans I3 through ducts II about finned tubes I4 in containers 6wherein said air is cooled and then said cooled air falls down throughthe lading and/or the rack flue 36 and eventually backs up through theflue 1 to the space between the containers 6 and drip pans where thecycle is repeated.

The greater proportion of heat entering the car is through the sidewalls thereof, and because the war-m air is constantly passing upwardlyin the flues 1, said heat units will be carried quickly to thecontainers and be absorbed by the refrigerant therein. therebymaintaining a cold wall.

I claim' 1. In a refrigerator car, a refrigerant container spaced belowthe roof and extending vfrom adjacent one wall to adjacent the oppositewall of said car, the bottom of said container beingA inclineddownwardly from opposite ends to the transverse center of saidcontainer, *drip*l pans below said container parallel with the bottomthereof each extending from an end of said container to adjacent saidtransverse center providing a space between said drip pans, a oor rackproviding a space between said rack and the car licor, nues formed inpart by said walls, said nues communicating with the space between saiddrip pans and container and the space between said floor rack and carfloor, and rack nues formed in part by said rst mentioned flues, saidrack nues communicating with the space under said drip pans above thespace normally occupied by a lading in thev refrigerator and the spacebelow the noor rack.

2. In a refrigerator car, a refrigerant container spaced below the roofand extending from adjacent one wall to adjacent the opposite wall ofsaid car and having nlling openings adjacent the ends of said container,an 'air duct extending through said container from side to side thereofbetween said filling openings, and communica-t'- ing with the exteriorof said container; agplurality of finned tubes extending transverselyvof said air duct and communicating with the interior of said container,whereby refrigerant within said container may surge through said tubesdue to service movements of the car, and

Y air may move through said ductabout said tubes and be 'cooled byContact therewith.

3. A refrigerant container, for a railway refrigerator car, saidcontainer having a bottom surface inclined downwardly from opposite endstoward the transverse center thereof, spaced fins .projecting downwardlyfrom said bottom surface,

a duct extending through said container between opposite walls thereofand open to the exterior of said container for passage of airtherethrough said duct being spaced from the top, bottom and ends ofsaid container, a plurality of tubes extending between oppOsite wal-lsof said duct `and communicating with the interior of said container forpassage of refrigerant through said tubes, whereby air moving throughsaid 'ducta-nd about said tubes will be cooledl thereby.

4. A refrigerant container, for a railway-re,-

frigerator car, said container having a duct extending through saidcontainer between opposite walls thereof and projecting beyond one walland open to the exterior of said container for passage of airtherethrough said duct being spaced from the top, bottom and ends ofsaid container, a fan mounted within the projecting end of said duct foroptionally forcing air therethrough a plurality of tubes extendingbetween opposite walls of said duct and communicating with the interiorof said container for passage of refrigerant through said tubes, wherebyair moving through said duct and about said tubes will be cooledthereby.

5. A refrigerant container, for a railway re` frigerator car, saidcontainer having spaced, longitudinally vdisposed ns projectingdownwardly from the bottom surface of said container, a'

transverse duct extending through said container between opposite wallsthereof and projecting beyond one wall for passage of air therethroughsaid duct being spaced from the top, bottom and ends of said container,a fan mounted within the projecting end of said duct for optionallyforcing air therethrough a plurality of nned tubes exV tending betweenopposite walls of said duct and communicating with the interior of saidcontainer for passage of refrigerant through said tubes, whereby airmoving through said duct and about said tubes will be cooled thereby.

6. In a refrigerant container for a railway refrigerator, an air ductextending through said container between opposite walls thereof andcommunicating with the exterior of said container for passage of airtherethrough said duct being spaced from the top, bottom and ends ofsaid container, a fan mounted at one end of said duct for optionallyforcing air therethrough, and a 6 1 plurality of nned tubes extendingtransversely of said duct and communicating with the interior of saidcontainer for passage of refrigerant therethrough, whereby air movingthrough said duct and about said tubes may be cooled by contacttherewith.

'7. In a refrigerator car having a roof with hatchways on opposite sidesof the ridge of said roof; a refrigerant container spaced below saidroof and extending from adjacent one wall to adjacent the opposite wallof said car, the top of said container having filling openingsregistering with said hatchways, an air duct extending transverselythrough said container between said filling openings, and spaced fromthe top, bottom and ends of said container, and communicating with theexterior of said container, a plurality of finned tubes extendingtransversely through said air duct and communicating with the interiorof said container, whereby refrigerant within said container may surgethrough said tubes due to service movement of said car and air may movethrough said air duct about said tubes and be cooled by contacttherewith.

RAYMOND A. DOERING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 303,164 Jennings Aug. 5, 18841,622,918 Merlis Mar. 29, 1927 1,823,393 Galloway Sept. 15, 19311,934,551 Meysenburg Nov. 7, 1933 2,199,031 Sperry Apr. 30, 19402,256,197 Finger Sept. 16, 1941

